White Baby Shocks Black Parents: Medically Possible?

Ben and Angela Ihegboro and their beautiful new baby girl Nmachi. (The Sun)

(CBS) How did Ben and Angela Ihegboro, a black Nigerian couple living in London, give birth to a white daughter?

The answer may not be so black and white, experts say.

According to the BBC, there are three potential reasons for the baby Nmachi's unexpected appearance: "dormant white genes which entered both of her parents' families long ago, a genetic mutation unique to her, or albinism."

The first reports on the family's strange case had ruled out albinism, but the BBC says Nmachi's doctors have not ruled it out.

Albinism, a condition whereby a person has little or no color in their skin, hair and eyes, can remain dormant in genes for many generations. Just because the couple's living relatives aren't afflicted by the disease, that doesn't mean they aren't carriers. It is not uncommon in Nigeria, according to the BBC.

But it's not the only possible explanation.

Doctors also say Nmachi's parents may harbor long dormant Caucasian DNA from a long forgotten interracial coupling, according to the BBC.  A third possibility is perhaps the most tantalizing but also the scariest. Nmachi may have a unique genetic mutation that doctors have not seen before.

More at the BBC and the Sun

[Valhalla0907]

I think the baby is albino. My neighbors have a little girl with the condition, they have mixed heritage. As long as she is healthy and has parents that love her, who cares?

[DamnedSpot]

The international scientific community could learn a lot from a genetic study. We could all learn a lot about our human condition just from a DNA study of this couple and their kids. So why no mention of DNA testing?

[DamnedSpot]

Stealing sperm is easier than stealing babies.

[DamnedSpot]

testing

[kipdr]

"Doctors also say Nmachi's parents may harbor long dormant Caucasian DNA..."

How ignorant and racist is that statement? It proves that the media harbors white supremacist beliefs.

How dare the BBC imply that the appearance of a Black couple's child has something to do with some imaginary long lost Caucasian ancestor's RECESSIVE genes? Are you journalists or fiction writers?

This boils down to the power of black people to produce offspring of ANY skin color, hair texture, eye color, etc, as they have proven over and over again. I should know as my own mother has green eyes and very light skin, compared to her parents who have dark brown eyes and very dark skin.

This happens more often than one thinks and has everything to do with the power of black people to produce very diverse offspring!

It's just like whitey to lay claim to that which does not belong to him!

[Tonya_Jo]

Kipdr, I have to disagree with you. I don't think this is racist at all. If a white couple gave birth to a black baby, dormant black genes within the family could be responsible. It's not racist, it's genetics.

If you go back to the modern black man/woman's roots, you'll discover pure (for lack of a better word) black blood produces black hair, brown skin, brown eyes. How many tribal Africans have you see that carry blond hair and blue eyes?

If your mom has green eyes, she's got some European mixed in with her. Take this from a blue-eyed sister.

[Aine57]

Uh, might want to study science a little before you make claims of "racism." Recessive or, in your post, RECESSIVE, genes, if found on both sides of the family can result in a phenotype you don't anticipate. "The power of black people" or frankly of any people of any color has nothing to do with it.

[layonnah10]

This just proves what we've always known..........WHITE FOLK CAME FROM BLACK FOLK !!! Stephen Wells said all people came from one black man found in Africa. Which leads me to believe more in Darwin's theory of Natural Selection. That's y they kidnaped all those aboringinal kids in Australia more than 50 years ago ,'cause they show the change from black to white. History ...... my people .... just history.

[revboros]

I cannot believe that this is a country I once thought had a better attitude to race than many others. This story has been the catalyst for frementing all the vile soup which is in many souls. People talking about the fate of the child... "doomed" one writer comments,"soon be on welfare" comments another...... No,No, No! She was born in Britain, not America. Her father is employed, not on benefits. Africans prize education very highly so this child will be sent to university, as will her siblings, if she has the intellect. Britain, for all it's faults will be pleased to have her in it's mids, British scientist will want to keep an eye on her, the right thinking members of her church will love her, she will be taken care of. If she does suffer it will be because of all the attention given her, some such as on this page from creatures poising as human beings. Creatures without the intellect to even take in all the information before spewing their vile bile.

[Aine57]

Seriously. This is a child who should do just fine. British education is excellent. Loving parents are a fantastic asset, too.

[CanadianSample]

It is rather clear that the child looks white. I read many years ago that some of the black people in West Africa have some Caucasian ancestry. How much we don't know. Nigeria was an English colony, it has had a large Syrian and Lebanese population til this day. It is possible a white person had an interracial coupling with a Nigerian woman at some point for this to happen. I don't doubt there being some white genes somewhere, but this is a mutation, an anomaly. I don't think it's possible without some European ancestry or some North African light skinned background somewhere. The Europeans did interact with people from West Africa.

[Mz_Meeka]

Wow,it amazes me at what people say when they do not have the intellectual ability to comprehend. Race is an issue because we make it an issue. The fact of the matter is that God can do whatever he sees fit. Granted, Nigerians have the negative stigma of being con artist. Even my Nigerian sorority will attest to that but not everyone is a scam artist. If you don't believe that they did extensive testing before they let these parents speak than you are foolish. This is not the 1st time such a thing like this happened nor will it be the last. Let's keep in mind that mankind came from to single people...Adam & Eve and no one knows what their color was. Education of oneself is important.

[ShellyPortlandOR]

Actually most scientists and those who have studied the original texts of the Bible in Greek and Aramaic agree that Eve was Black. The study of the double helix lead the modern scientists to this as well. Feel free to look it up. I don't see what difference it makes really. i agree with you race is an issue because people make it an issue. It's a baby. Don't know why people are so hateful, sadly a lot of the hate comes from people who profess to know God... sad I think.

[adefolake]

As someone who majored in Biology in college, took genetics courses, worked in a genetics lab, researched in genetics, and graduated from medical school in the United States, I would like to say that this occurrence is NOT impossible. It so happens that this incident was publicized and people who are NOT exposed or educated have NEVER seen anything like this before.

It is a shame that people are questioning the woman's fidelity and/or the hospital's integrity. I'm sure the nurses & the doctors who delivered the baby saw that it was white. I don't think that the baby was switched right before it exited the woman's womb (uterus).

Some people who are race purists are AFRAID to think or believe that they might possibley have some "black" gene in them and are making racist comments here. No matter how loud they scream, curse, or insult, that WILL NOT change their genetics.

It is a shame that people are angry and outraged by this story, rather than standing in awe of the human genome. Education is the cure for ignorance. Invest in yourself!